Machine for handling eggs



Jan. 29, 1963 H. J. MUMMA MACHINE FOR HANDLING EGGS I 1'! Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed Dec. 28, 1953 mu m-i-Hil.

INVENTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA ATTORNEY Jan. 29, 1963 H. J. MUMMA MACHINE FORHANDLING EGGS OriginGl Filed Dec. 28, 1953 17 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORHAROLD J.

I MUMMA BY M 2,

ATTORNEY Jan. 29, 1963 H. J. MUMMA 3,075,672

MACHINE FOR HANDLING EGGS Original Filed Dec. 28, 1953 l7 Sheets-Sheet 3INVINTOR l5 7 HAROLD J. MUNIA FIE:- 5 4 M W" A'I'TO R N EY Jan. 29, 1963H. J. MUMMA 3,075,672

MACHINE FOR HANDLING EGGS Original Filed Dec. 28, 1953 INVENTOR HAROLDJ. mum

ATTORNEY Jan. 29, 1963 H. J. MUMMA MACHINE FOR HANDLING EGGS OriginalFiled Dec. 28, 1953 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENIOR HAROLD J. mum

ATTORNE Y Jan. 29, 1963 H. J. MUMMA 3,075,672

- MACHINE FOR HANDLING EGGS Original Filed Dec 28, 1953 17 Sheets-Sheet6 F'IIEI" EI INVENTOR nnno p J. MUMNA wkwwww ATTORNEY 1''! Sheets-Sheet7 H. J. MUMMA MACHINE FOR HANDLING EGGS mmF Jan. 29, 1963 Original FiledDec; 28, 1953 ME wmb INVENTOR HAVROLD J. MUMMA ATTORNEY P m V QWN. MD

who. \mooz Nmm QmM mmb Jan. 29, 1963 H. J. MUMMA 3,075,672

MACHINE FOR HANDLING EGGS Original Filed Dec. 28, 1953 17 Sheets-Sheet10 F I B IEI F'I I3 .I I3

5, o 840 862 If 830 930 778 838 92 o 892 sees" I N V ENTOR nARoLb J.MUMMA BY A 94 ATTORNEY Jan. 29, 1963 H. J. MUMMA 3,075,672

MACHINE FOR HANDLING EGGS Original Filed Dec. 28, 1953 17 Sheets-Sheet11 INVENTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA ATTORNEY Jan. 29, 1963 H. J. MUMMA 3,075,672

MACHINE FOR HANDLING EGGS Original Filed Dec. 28. 1953 17 Sheets-Sheetl2 imlzmon HAROLD J. MUMMA ATTORNEY Jan. 29, 1963 H. J. MUMMA MACHINEFOR HANDLING EGGS Original Filed Dec. 28, 1953 17 Sheets-Sheet 13INVENTOR HAROLD J. uumA ATTORNEY Jan. 29, 1963 H. J. MUMMA 3,075,672

MACHINE FOR HANDLING EGGS Original Filed Dec. 28, 1953 17 Sheets-Sheet14 F'IB 2E O 7 H65 I86 6 mvsmoa 5 HAROLD J. MUM! ATTORNEY Jan. 29, 1963v H. J. MUMMA 3,075,672

MACHINE FOR HANDLING EGGS Original Filed Dec. 28, 1955 1'7 Sheets-Sheet15 F'II3 'Z-EI 76'? (Me uao INVENTOR HAROLD J. NUIMA ATTORNEY Jan. 29,1963 H. J. MUMMA 3,075,672

MACHINE FOR HANDLING EGGS Original Filed Dec. 28, 1953 17 Sheets-Sheet16 I85 I1 I66 L x I j 7 985 w l I z INVENTOR HAROLD J. MUMMA ATTORNEYJan. 29, 1963 H. J. MUMMA 3,075,672

MACHINE FOR HANDLING EGGS Original Filed Dec. 28, 1953 17 Sheets-Sheet17 v v v 755 a? I nzu r flax-x3757 \oeo 976 I I096 all I I INVENTORHAROLD J. IUMIA ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,975,672 MACHINE FORHANDLING EGGS Harold J. Maurine, Riverside, Calif, assignor to FMCCorporation, a corporation of Delaware Original application Dec. 2%,1953, Eaer. No. 4%,466, new Patent No. 2,895,274, dated July 21, 1959.Divided and this application .iuly 16, 1959, Ser. No. 827,599 '7(liairns. (ill. 221312) The present invention relates to machines forhandling articles such as eggs, and more particularly to an improvedcarton handling mechanism for article handling machines.

The present application is a division of Mumma application Serial No.400,466 filed December 28, 1953, now U.S. Patent No. 2,895,274.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved cartonhandling mechanism.

Another object is to provide means operable to place the individualpocket rows of multi-row egg cartons into egg receiving positionrelative to an egg supporting supply conveyor and to advance asuccessive pocket row of the carton into egg receiving position relativeto the conveyor Whenever a preceding pocket row has been filled witheggs from said conveyor.

Another object is to provide an elficient mechanism for dispensingcartons from a supply magazine.

Another object is to provide an improved carton supply magazine.

Another object is to provide an improved conveyor for advancing cartonsin an egg handling machine.

Another object is to provide an improved drive mechanism for a cartonsupplying conveyor.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description of the accompanying drawings which illustratea preferred embodiment thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the complete egg handling machine ofthe invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation of the machine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG 3 is a schematic side elevation of the same machine viewed from theside opposite to FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are the left and right halves of a fragmentary schematicperspective illustrating the mechanical power trains comprised in themachine of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective of one of the candling stations comprised in themachine of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective of eighteen packing stations associated with theterminal run of the distributing conveyor.

- FIG. 7 is a transverse vertical section across the distributingconveyor taken along line 7--'7 of FIG. 1 and looking toward the firstof the eighteen packing stations.

FIG. 8 is a perspective of one of said packing stations.

FIG. 9 is a perspective of an egg carton that may be handled by thepacking station illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective of a cardboard grid and associatedbase plate that may likewise be handled by the packing stationillustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the packing station with its carton supplymagazine removed.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal vertical section through a packing station andthe lower part of its carton magazine taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows the upper part of the magazine illustrated in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal vertical section through a packing stationsimilar to FIG. 12, but taken along line 1414 of FIG. 11 and viewed in adirection opposite to said FIG. 12.

31,975,612 Patented Jan. 29, 1963 FIG. 15 is a vertical section througha packing station taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is another vertical section through a packing station takenalong line 16-46 of FIG. 14 and viewed in a direction opposite to FIG.15.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary perspective of pusher or impeller memberssupported upon the carton feed conveyor of each packing station.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating the manner in whichthe feed conveyor of the packing station may be adjusted to handleeither carton or cardboard grids.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are fragmentary vertical sections through the mechanismillustrated in FIG. 18, showing consecutive operational positionsthereof.

FIG. 21 is a perspective diagram illustrating the electrical circuits ofeach packing station and the mechanical components controlled thereby.

FIG. 22 is a fragmentary exploded perspective of the switch control camsforming part of the circuit arrangement illustrated in FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating the control mechanismfor the carton feed conveyor of each packing station.

FIG. 24 is a detail view illustrating mechanism associated wih themechanical power train of each such carton feed conveyor.

FIG. 25 is a perspective of a battery of six egg release solenoidsprovided along the distributing conveyor at each of the eighteen packingstations.

FIG. 26 is a fragmentary transverse section taken along line 2626 ofFIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a detail view illustrating part of the mechanism shown inFIG. 26 in a different operational position.

FIG. 28 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the terminal runof the distributing conveyor taken along line 2828 of FIG. 26.

FIGS. 29A, 29B, and 29C are schematic detail views showing consecutiveoperational positions of the mechanisms illustrated in FIG. 28.

FIGS. 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D are schematic sections through a packingstation similar to FIG. 12 illustrating consecutive operational phasesof the packing station.

General Lay-Out of the Machine Having first reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and3, the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings comprises six candling stations 15d individually identified bythe reference numerals 151, 152, 153, 154, and 156. Each of saidstations is provided with a platform 1.57 upon which the candlerreceives cases or crates with eggs from an inclined roller conveyor 158.At every one of said stations, an operator examines the eggs forexternal appearance, views them against a torch 159 (FIG. 5) todetermine their internal condition and places those found acceptableupon one of eight superposed racks or chutes 160, individuallyidentified by the suffix letters a, b, c, d, e, f, g, and h, accordingto their individual quality while depositing eggs that are broken,excessively dirty or otherwise unfit for human consumption intocardboard containers (not shown) placed upon trays 162 that aresupported in candelabrum fashion at the right end of the racks as viewedin FIG. 5.

At each candling station the eight superposed racks olr chutes 16% arearranged to deliver eggs deposited thereinto onto cups 1164 upon therising run 166 (FIG. 5). of an elevator 168, and whenever an egg passesfrom the end of a rack or chute 164 into a cup 164, it actuatesmechanism that registers the quality of the egg as represented by therack onto which it was deposited by the candler, upon a rotary controldevice 170' (FIG. 4A), termed the memory belt that operates within acabinet indicated at 172 in FIG. 1. Said memory belt is divided into amultitude of consecutive horizontally extending strip-shaped sectors 175(MG. 4A), and every one of the cups 164 on the rising runs of the sixelevators 168 comprised in the machine is represented by a sector 1755of the memory belt. The memory belt 179 turns in timed relation with theelevators 168, and when an egg passes from one of the eight racks 166 ofa candling station onto a cup 164 of the particular elevator associatedwith said candling station, the hereinbefore mentioned registrationmechanism sets an element Supported upon the sector 175 of the memorybelt that corresponds to the particular elevator cup, in a mannerindicative of the quality as represented by the chute or rack from whichthe egg was delivered onto the cup.

Every one of the six elevators 1163 is arranged to deliver the eggs itreceives from its associated racks Or chute 16!? to a respective one ofsix weighing mechanisms collectively identified by the reference numeral180 (FIG. 1) upon which the eggs are weighed and which is arranged toactivate mechanism that registers the weight group to which aparticular-egg belongs in the same sector 175 of the memory belt thatpreviously recorded the quality of said egg.

From the weighing mechanism of the six candh'ng stations the eggs aredelivered by means of a lowering meet anism (not shown) onto a commonsingle file conveyor 185 that carries an endless sequence of eggretaining buckets, and which operates at six times the speed f theelevators 168 and is timed in such a manner relative to said elevatorsand the'associated weighing and egg lowering mechanisms that itsconsecutive buckets may carry away all eggs supplied from the sixelevators by the egg lowering mechanisms without danger that more thanone egg may be deposited into one and the same bucket.

The conveyor 1'85 conducts the eggs through an oiling station 138(FIG. 1) wherein eggs of selected quality and weight combinations aresubjected to an oil spray under control from the memory belt 170' to,preserve their freshness. Thereafter said conveyors 185' extends overighteen consecutive packing stations 1% (FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6), eachprovided with a container supply magazine 1191, and as it carries theeggs consecutively to said packing stations, itdistributes eggs of thesame preselected weight and quality combinations under control from thememory belt its at predetermined ones of said stations into suitablecardboard containers delivered by feed conveyors 192 (FIG. 8) from themagazines 191 into positions underneath the distributing conveyor, suchthat said containers will receive only eggs of the same preselectedweight and quality group. After a cardboard container has been filled inthe described manner with eggs of the same quality and Weight group, itis discharged onto a take-off ramp 1% from where an attendant maytransfer it onto a suitable take-oil conveyor 1% or 1%, depending on itssize (FZGS. 6 and 7), while means enter into operation that deliver afresh cardboard container from the magazine 19d. into egg receivingposition below the distributing conveyor 185. V

. The present invention is particularly concerned with the mechanisms,at the packing stations 1%, that store cartons, dispense cartons from amagazine, and convey the cartons to the positions at which they receiveeggs from the egg supply conveyor 185. The'other mechanisms of themachine are described in the above-mentioned Mumma Patent No. 2,895,274and reference should be had to that patent for a detailed description ofthe construction and operation of those mechanisms.

After carrying the eggs contained in its buckets 136 through the oilingstation 138, the upper run of the distributing conveyor 185 leads overeighteen juxtaposed packing stations 1% as previously pointed out. Eachrespective magazine in succession into egg-receiving position below theupper run of the distributing conveyor such that eggs of predeterminedquality and weight combination released from the buckets of thedistributing conveyor under control from the memory belt may drop intosuccessive pockets of said container; and after a row of pockets hasbeen filled with eggs, means enter into operation that advance thecontainer a limited distance so that its next pocket row moves intoegg-receiving position below the distributing conveyor; and whenever allthe successive pocket rows in a particular container have been filledwith eggs, each packing station is arranged to eject the filledcontainer onto a take-off ramp I93 and place a new container from themagazine with its leading pocket row into egg receiving position belowthe upper run of the distributing conveyor.

Having reference to FIGS. 7, 8, 11, 12, and 14, each of the packingstations 1% comprises a container feed conveyor 192 that leads frombelowthe container magazine 191 to a point below the upper min 572 (FIG.7) of the distributing conveyor 135. In the particular embodiment of theinvention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the feed conveyor192 (FIG. 8) is formed by three horizontally disposed, parallel,transversely spaced rods 751a, 7511: and 751s that are rigidly supportedfrom the opposite ends 752 and 753 of an elongated rectangular baseframe 754. Along said rods egg containers placed thereon are pushed byimpellers 755 that are supported at equal intervals from two endlesssprocket chains 756a and 756i). Said sprocket chains are trained about apair of sprockets 757a, 7571) and a pair of sprockets 758a,

7581; mounted upon transverse shafts 75g and 760, respec-' tively, thatare rotatably supported in the side walls 762a and 7621) of the baseframe near the opposite ends there of in such a manner that the upperruns of the chains extend parallel to and closely below the rods 751aand 7510, respectively, with the impellers supported therefromprotruding into operative container propelling position between, andabove the level of, said rods. The hereinbefore mentioned containersupply magazine 191 is mounter upon outwardly turned flanges 766a and76611 provided along the upper edges of the side walls 762a and 762b offrame 75 and is preferably of such conof said packing stations comprisesa magazine 191 adapted to hold a stack of superposed egg containers, andeach of said stations is arranged to place containers from its structionthat it may selectively be adjusted to hold and dispense either cartons767 of the type providing two rows of six pockets each as illustrated inFIG. 9, or cardboard grids 768 which form six consecutive rows of eachsix pockets and which rest loosely upon base plates 769 as illustratedin FIG. 10. The latter type containers, when filled with eggs, areplaced in superposed relation into crates or cases to pack large numbersof eg 3 for transportation to consumers. For the sake of simplicity theyWill hereinafter briefly be referred to as cardboard grids 770.

Having reference to FIGS. 8, I2, 13, and 14, each contamer magazine isformed by a pair of vertically disposed transversely spaced rear bars774a and 77412 that constitute the rear wall of the magazine and whichare rigidly attached to and rise from the upper edge of a verticallypositioned transversely extending mounting plate 776 that is boltedalong its lateral edges to a pair of uprights 778a and 7785. Saiduprights in turn are bolted to and rise from the outwardly turnedflanges 766a and 7665) of th side walls 752a and 76212 of the previouslymentioned base frame 754. Secured to the rear bars 774a and 77412 atdifferent vertical levels are upper and lower frame bars 72a and 782,respectively, of rectangular shape, to which are rigidly secured pairsof vertical side bars 784a, 786a and 7 8%, 785b, that form the sideWalls of the magazine. The front wall of the magazine is formed by afourth pair of spaced vertical bars 785a and 7331; which are supportedin such a manner from the front bars 790 and 792 of frames 7% and 782;,respectively, that they may selectively be moved from the position shownin full lines in FIGS. 12 and 13 wherein they define a magazine fortwo-row cartons 767 to the position shown in phantom lines in said FIGS.12 and 13 wherein they define a magazine of a size adapted to hold thehereinbefore described six-row cardboard grids 770. For this purpose,transverse hinge rods 794 and 796 are rotatably supported in the sideportions 798a, 798i) and Sfitla, 8W1: of the frames 780 and 782,respectively, adjacent the front portions 7% and 792 thereof, and firmlymounted upon said hinge rods are pairs of laterally positioned armstiliZa, 802b, and 804a, 30% that extend in a direction inwardly of theframes. Ri-gidly supported in the free ends of said arms are cross rods8% and 868, respectively, that are rotatably received in the parallellegs 810a, 81% and 812a, Sllb of U-shaped brackets 814 and 316, Whoseconnecting bars 818 and 820 are rigidly secured to the front bars 788aand 788b, respectively, at different vertical levels spaced apart by thesame vertical distance as the frames 7 8t and 7&2. Spring means 822coiled around, and anchored in, the upper hinge rod 794 while bearingagainst the front bar 790' of the upper frame 780 urge the describedsupporting structure into its lower position which is shown in phantomlines in FIGS. 12 and 13 in a position wherein stop lugs 824a and 82%(FIG. 9) provided on the front bars 783a and 788b, respectively, bearagainst the hinge rods 794 and 796 and wherein said front bars define amagazine for the hereinbefore described cardboard grids 77 i). From thisposition said supporting structure may be raised on the hinge rods 7%and 796 into the position shown in full lines in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14wherein the front bars 788a and 7881) define a magazine of a sizeadapted to accommodate a stack of two-row cartons 767 and wherein atransversely extending spring bolt 826, slidably received in aperturedlugs 828a and 828b provided on the front bars between the upper stoplugs 824a and $2412 and the upper U-shaped bracket S14, slides over oneof the side portions of the upper frame 780 and in this manner preventsthe supporting structure'from returning to its lower position under theforce of gravity and under the urgency of the spring means 8212.

Supported from the hereinbefore mentioned uprights 773a and 778i:adjacent the lower ends of the rearwardly positioned side bars 784a and7554b are superposed pairs of fingers 83%, 83Gb and 832a, 8321? thatform a gate mechanism 833 which is adapted to retain a stack of cartons767 in the magazine when said magazine is adjusted to its narrowerposition, and which may be operated to release cartons from said stackso that they drop individually onto the carton supply conveyorunderneath. Said fingers 839a, 8391) and 832a, 8352b depend from pairsof superposed spindles 834a, 3341) and 836a, 8361; rotatably receivedwithin the uprights 773a and 77819 and have inwardly turned tips 838a,83% and 8443a, $401), respectively, that reach normally into theinterior of the magazine at levels spaced vertically apart by a distanceabout equal to the depth of a carton so that a stack of cartons maysettle within the magazine with the lower fingertips 833a and 338i;engaging the wedge-shaped center groove 8- 51 (Flu. 9) of the lowermostcarton in the stack and the upper fingertips 84-611 and 840i; engagingthe wedge-shaped center groove of the second lowest carton in the stack.Means are provided in accordance with the invention that may beenergized to briefly withdraw first the lower finger tips 83% and $3812from within the magazine so as to re lease the lowest carton from themagazine while all other cartons are retained within the magazine by theupper finger tips 849a and 340b, and then said upper finger tips so thatupon delivery of the lowermost carton onto the conveyor underneath andreturn of the lower finger tips to their carton retaining position, thestack of cartons above the upper finger tips may drop onto the lowerfinger tips whereupon the upper finger tips return to engage below whatis then the second lowest carton in the remaining stack. Havingreference to FIGS. 15, 16 and 21, the hereinbefore described verticalmounting plate 776 carries on its outer face a solenoid 842 whosenormally project-ed armature 8% is pivotally connected through avertical link 3% with the end of an inwardly directed arm 8% that isfirmly mounted upon the protruding rear end of the spindle 8334b for theright lower finger $3M, which spindle 834b is rotatably supported in theupright 77 8b as previously described. An interponent 852 pivotallyconnects another upwardly directed arm 854- on the spindle 8314b withthe end of a downwardly directed arm $56 that is firmly mounted upon therearwardly protruding end of the spindle 834a for the left lower fingerfiftfia, which spindle is rotatably mounted in the upright 778a aspreviously described. Upon energization of the solemold 842 retractionof its armature 844 swings the spindle 8341) of the right lower finger831th in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FlGS. l5 and 21, andin this manner swings the right lower finger tip out of the magazine.The defined rotation of spindle 834i) is efifective through theinterponent 852 to turn the spindle 834a of the left lower finger inclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 15 and 21, which swings the leftlower finger tip out of the magazine. Upon de-energization of thesolenoid 342 a spring 858 tensioned between a stud 86d projecting fromthe mounting plate 775 and the interponent 852 returns both fingers 830aand 83% immediately to their inwardly projected carton retainingposition.

To operate the upper fingers SSZa and 5532b the mounting plate 776carries another solenoid 862 whose normally upwardly projected armature364- is pivotally connected through a link 866 to an inwardly directedarm 868 that is firmly mounted upon the rearwardly protruding end,

of the spindle SSa which carries the left upper finger 832a and which isrotatably mounted in the upright 77 3a as previously explained. Adownwardly directed second arm 872 on the spindle 836a is pivotallyconnected through an interponent 874 with the end of an upwardlydirected arm 876 that is firmly mounted upon the spindle 83% whichcarries the right upper finger 8532b and which is rotatably mounted inthe upright 778 b as previously described. Energization of the solenoid$62; is, therefore, effective to withdraw the tips of both the upperfingers 832a and 8312b from the interior of the magazine in the samemanner in which energization of the solenoid 84-2 is effective toretract both the lower fingers from the magazine, and uponde-energization of the solenoid 862 a spring 378 tensioned between astud S t projecting from the mounting plate 776 and a suitable point ofthe interponent 874 returns both the upper fingers 332a and 832!)immediately to their inwardly projected carton retaining position.

Appropriate energization of the two solenoids 842 and 862 to operate theupper and lower carton retaining fingers in the proper sequence and atthe proper time in the operation of the machine is controlled, in amanner to be more fully described hereinafter, by a cam disk 882 (FIG.22) that is firmly mounted upon the hereinbefore described transverseshaft 759 of the carton supply conveyor.

Whenever the magazine is adjusted to handle the hereinbefore describedcardboard grids 770, the retaining fingers 83th:, 83th) and 832a, 8321;are permanently disabled by suitable manipulation of a switch mechanism884 (FIG. 21) to maintain both the solenoids 842 and 862 in a constantstate of energization where they keep said fingers permanently withdrawnfrom the magazine. Manipulation of said switch mechanism 334 is alsoarranged to return to operative position another gate mechanism 886 atthe bottom of the magazine which is adapted to retain the cardboardgrids 770 within the magazine and which may be operated to release abase plate 769 with its appertaining cardboard grid 76% individually fordelivery onto the feed conveyor underneath. Said gate mechanism 886 isin permanently disabled condition as long as the magazine is adjusted tohandle the two-row egg cartons as previously described and it embodiesthe same principles as the above described carton retaining

1. A CARTON MAGAZINE SELECTIVELY ADJUSTABLE TO HOLD CARTONS OF DIFFERENTSIZE COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR FRAME STRUCTURE, MEMBERS RIGIDLY CONNECTEDTO ONE END BAR AND THE SIDE BARS OF SAID FRAME STRUCTURE TO FORM ONE ENDWALL AND THE TWO SIDE WALLS OF THE MAGAZINE, ANOTHER MEMBER ADAPTED TOFORM THE OTHER END WALL OF SAID MAGAZINE, AN ARM ARRANGED TO PIVOTALLYSUPPORT SAID LAST MENTIONED MEMBER FROM SAID FRAME STRUCTURE FORMOVEMENT FROM A LOWER POSITION ADJACENT THE CORRESPONDING END BARTHEREOF TO AN UPPER POSITION REMOVED INWARDLY THEREFROM,